Understanding Product Liability Claims in Oklahoma City: When Manufacturers Are Liable for Injuries
Depending on the damages that are suffered, victims injured by defective products may be entitled to a significant monetary settlement for their losses. In fact, the Insurance Information Institute recently reported that the average personal injury award for a product liability suit is around $7 million. In a product liability suit, there must be a defendant or an individual who may be liable for paying a victim. In general, product defects happen as a result of either a design defect, manufacturing defect, or advertising defect.
Negligence happens when there is a failure to meet a specific and reasonable legal standard of care that others in the same situation would exercise. Negligence related to a consumer product can lead to poor and unsafe design, improper assembly, or inaccurate marketing and any of these can be dangerous for consumers.
If you were injured by a defective product in Oklahoma, do not hesitate to call our Oklahoma City personal injury attorney at Putnam Law to assist you with filing a suit and determining liability.
Manufacturer Negligence in a Product Liability Suit
When a product gets to the manufacturer, this is where it is built. Shotty construction or mistakes during the assembly process can make a product unsafe for the consumer. Manufacturers have to take appropriate and reasonable steps when putting a product together to make sure it is done so correctly and in a way where it will not be dangerous to the consumer.
When a consumer can prove that they were using the product in the way that it was intended but a defect in the way it was manufactured is what caused their injuries, it may be possible to hold a manufacturer accountable for their harm. Since Oklahoma is a comparative negligence state, the amount of damages a victim can collect from a manufacturer, if any, will depend on their level of liability for their injuries. Using the 50% rule, when an injury accident happens, each party involved will be evaluated. Any party that is determined to be more than 50% responsible will be unable to recover financial compensation. However, any party that is under 51% responsible will be able to recover compensation that is reduced by their percentage of fault. Finally, any party that is determined to have no part in causing their accident or has 0% responsibility can recover 100% of compensation for their harm.
In a product liability case where there are manufacturing defects only, the design of the product is not to blame for the accident. The design is accurate, but during the process of putting a product together, there was a mistake or error.
Speak to an Attorney at the Putnam Law Office Today
Every year, thousands of product liability claims are filed, and many of them are against manufacturers. Manufacturers who are not careful with their construction of consumer products can release unsafe goods to the public, which can cause massive physical bodily harm and even death.
If you were injured by a defective product, do not wait to call the Putnam Law Office at 405-724-7701 today. Initial consultations are complimentary for all prospective clients.
